I will allow both of you to assist me in assessing defenses.
Was there an emphasis on both? Valyr gave a slight nod, moving his chair closer so that his shoulder now pressed against hers. No gaps at all. That might damage her creds as competent. She’d felt a couple of IQ points slough off in the sudden heat in her middle.
Her dark console came alive again. She tried to care. Luckily her fingers knew what to do. To her surprise, the console didn’t protest when Valyr’s hands settled next to hers.
Try to minimize resource use.
“Yes, ma’am.” Against hers, Valyr’s shoulders shook slightly. It kind of felt like she was getting her own Hallmark movie, which would be better than the SF alternatives she’d been worried about. Her shoulders moved, her hands moved, her brain? The right and left side were busy with the up—and the down—side of letting herself fall into—like. The pros weren’t that long. She didn’t know that much. He was cute, hot, and he looked good in blue. Cons? Well, he might be a clone and turn into Khan. Just because the powers that be had let the others keep their alien lovers, she probably didn’t have the clout. So heartbreak city.
And then data on the outpost’s defenses began to appear on multiple screens. Was it an omen that “Werewolves of London” started to play. She almost howled along.
“Are those ships?”
“You are interested in space capable ships?”
She turned, her nose almost touching his nose. “I’m a geek, sweetie. Space capable ships light my—afterburners.” And her before burners. All her fires. Color surged into her face as his brown eyes lit up. She realized she was still moving to the music, which had changed to “Mystery Girl.” Of course, in her mind, she changed the lyrics to “mystery guy.”
It felt like the music wrapped around them, drawing them closer and closer. She wasn’t conscious of either of them moving, but between one breath and the next, his lips were close enough to taste…
Just a tiny millimeter, maybe less. Her lips parted. Her heart kicked into a drum solo for the music and the moment. She tilted her head just a bit like she knew all about kissing when she didn’t. She’d been kissed on New Year’s Eve once, but that was more like bumping heads than the kissing from her romance novels.
The gap tightened. It wasn’t just a kiss. It was a kiss with an alien. A geek’s dream—
The alarm blared sharply, yanking their heads apart, their gazes to the screen that now showed the probe. She and Valyr had time to share alarmed looks.
And then it hit.
“Can we get to that room where we got our ma’rasile?” Doc asked Hel as they stepped out of the transport portal. At least they could still transport between Kick and the Doolittle. Robert was waiting for them with Emily in tow. Doc knew her face tightened and tried a few deep breaths. Why did he bring her along?
She proved useful during the last crisis, did she not?
Doc wasn’t sure about that. The most she’d give her was that she didn’t get in the way too much. And she did adore Robert. Doc knew her expression softened when her gaze found her big little brother. They were still working out who was the oldest in how they interacted. Well, she was. But Robert didn’t seem to have any problem not asking her permission for things like getting involved with time traveler agents scum bait and a parrot with perilous powers. If she hadn’t owed Briggs—she took a calming breath and gave her brother a soft punch on the arm.
“Don’t get all mushy on me, little sis,” he said, his grin, well, she’d have called it shit-eating if she wasn’t trying to clean up her language. Impending aunt-hood was really messing with her head, but she was not going to be the one who taught the kid to swear.
Doc’s gaze tracked to Emily, who showed no pregnancy signs yet. “You feeling okay?” she asked gruffly. She gave Doc a sunny smile. No matter how Doc talked to her, it was the same. Was that what drove her crazy?
“I’m good, thanks.” Emily didn’t mention they’d seen each other at breakfast and had already done this, so Doc didn’t bring it up either.
“How do we get there?” Doc asked. The last time they’d got there, well, neither of them was quite sure how that happened. The outpost and Hel kind of had a thing going that even being a ma’rasile didn’t get her in on.
Hel considered the question, or that’s what it looked like from the outside. From their link? Still looked like that.
“We need to clasp hands,” he said finally.
Doc opened her mouth to say something snotty about seances but closed it again. The outpost was capable of leaving her here alone if it wanted to. There was a flash, and they were back in the room deep inside the outpost. Doc looked around with a sigh. She didn’t like that it didn’t have obvious exits and the least the outpost could have done was fix the place up a bit—
Delilah.
It can’t hear us, can it?
Hel chuckled. And then they both straightened up as the holographic interface appeared. That’s what Doc called it because she hoped that was all it was. There was way too much sentience going on around here for her liking.
“Welcome, Key Holder,” the hologram said. It looked at Robert and simpered.
Doc found herself exchanging a look with Emily who seemed to agree with her.
“We require your assistance,” Hel said. “We have been isolated, cut off from the wider outpost network. The problem appears to reside in the outpost we call Central.” He gestured toward Doc and Robert. “They are skilled in code. I am hoping we can help regain access.”
Did the little…witch…make a face?
“Crabby,” Emily muttered just loud enough for Doc’s ears.
It was the closest she’d ever felt to her sister-in-law.
“I am at your service, Key Holder,” the hologram said.
Two consoles lit up to the side. And the circle that had joined them in ma’rasile.
“Step into the circle, Key Holder.”
Doc had a moment of unease and felt Hel touch her mind in reassurance. She followed Robert over to the consoles. Emily followed him, snagged a chair from a dark console and scooted up next to Robert.
Doc exchanged a look with Robert. They both flexed their fingers like concert pianists about to play a concerto. “Let’s do this.”
“Right on, little sister.”
13
The violent shaking did not last long, but it lasted long enough that it allowed Valyr to wrap his arms around Rachel. Despite his sense that their lives might be coming to an end, it was a relief to get his arms around her. If it had to end, let it be like this.
She burrowed her head into his shoulder, and he wished he had the skills to keep her safe. Had she, would she have allowed him to kiss her a few moments ago? Her eyes had been soft, her lips parted. She had not pulled away. She did not pull away now. His arms tightened.
He did not wish to die. He did not wish her to die.
He had felt…despair when he realized he had not wakened according to protocol. But now? Looking at Rachel, this present was not as bleak as he had feared, if only…
He did not, he admitted, care for the sounds she called music. But Bangle—Bangle?— liked the sounds so much, they continued to play, even as everything shook around them and the lighting flickered ominously, their brightness reduced to emergency levels.
The shaking slowed, and she did not pull away from him. This seemed encouraging though he did not wish to presume. The shaking finally stilled, as the music continued, something about a ticket and riding. Not caring? He cared more than he was willing to admit.
“Are you well, Rachel?”
She nodded, her hair brushing his chin. Still, she did not move. He felt her sigh. The movement caused him some…discomfort. He recalled the last time he had hugged a female. It had been a silent goodbye between friends, not lovers. He might be startled his body could feel desire after so many years in cold sleep. Or at all. The scientist in him found it interesting. The man was concerned she would realize—
/> She sighed again, then lifted her head so that her gaze could meet his. She tried to smile. It was a brave effort. He smoothed her hair off her face with a hand that trembled. From the long sleep, he told himself.
“We’re still here. At least…Bangle?” she asked.
I am here.
“How bad was it? How bad is it,” she amended?
This code is much prettier than the last.
“Oh dear,” Rachel said.
Indeed.
“What is the function of the code?” Valyr asked.
To take down my protections.
“No other purpose?” he pressed.
I am still assessing the code.
“Do you need our help?” Rachel asked, easing herself out of his hold.
Did he sense reluctance? He had no right. They had barely met, and he was an anomaly, an oddity in her world. A quaint object from the past. His technology must seem outdated. Indeed, he wondered why the incoming robots were interested in anything here. He opened his mouth to ask…to tell her…instead, he sighed.
“Their timing sucks,” she said as if he had spoken. Her cheeks were flushed, and her smile seemed hesitant to him.
Was she as uncertain, too? He tried to tell her with his eyes, what his lips lacked the words to say. Her lips widened into a smile that was not hesitant. Then her expression altered to amused.
“What?” he asked.
Her flush deepened, but she did not look away. “I’m not usually, I don’t usually—I usually stay in my bubble with people.”
“Bubble?”
“Keep my distance. I guess I’m shy.” She half chuckled. “That’s twice since I left—home.”
“Twice?” He felt a stab of jealousy. Who was the other man she’d allowed into her…bubble?
“Sir Rupert and you.”
The avian? He did not fear the avian. “He is most unusual.”
“One of a kind, which is a problem for him. I feel awful. Who would want to be the last—” she stopped? “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…”
“I am not the last, at least, not technically,” he amended. Could any of his people wake? Should he try? In truth, he did not know what this future held for any of them.
Her eyes grew distant, as if she saw some sad scene in her mind’s eye. “Even in a crowd, you can be alone.”
There was an odd sound like someone cleared their throat. Rachel turned toward the work stations. “Sorry, Bangle.”
“What can we do to assist you?” he asked…Bangle. The name made his eye twitch, and he wished there was time to ponder the reality of the system—his system’s—sentience. Siru was his first—and last—successfully sentient robot, since he’d gone into cold sleep shortly after. The retreat had begun before he had finished that research. Now, thanks to the memory restore, he could remember Siru choosing to shut itself down, so they could sleep—and hopefully wake—together. Were he and the bird—
“I hope Sir Rupert and Siru are okay?” Rachel murmured.
They are shaken but optimal and returning to this room.
It pleased him that her thoughts seemed to follow similar paths to his. He’d risked trying to help her hack into the system because he was not…certain…of Bangle’s loyalty to himself. Or that it would understand their problems and needs. Bangle had wandered far from the code he’d designed.
“Is there any chance we could evacuate to another outpost?” Rachel asked this with clear reluctance. “Not that I like retreating, you understand, but I’m not real excited about meeting those guys while completely unarmed.”
He smiled, but with worry behind the smile. He wished she could evacuate—well, he wished they did not need to leave. But she should not remain here when they did not know what was incoming. “I—we,” he altered to this when she gave him a stern look, “don’t have to be unarmed. There is the armory. It is not far from the ship bay.”
“Be still my heart. Ray guns and space ships? Oh man, I wish we had time to take a spin around the planet.”
He found it interesting that her lips smiled, but her eyes did not. “But—have you not—did you not—” How advanced was their technology?
“Oh we came in space ships, but there is something mystical and super cool about alien space ships and weapons. Not that you’re, well, you’re not normal to where I come from, are you?”
“No, I am not normal to where I come from,” he said, outwardly sober, but inside, she made him laugh. He did not remember much laughing in his life before joining the research project. His family had tried, and they had loved him, but his planet had little opportunities for him to explore his scientific interests. His thumb circled the scar, the result of a fall and a barely trained medical technician.
“Sorry, this is why I don’t talk that much. I open my mouth and in goes my foot.”
He looked from her foot to her mouth and shook his head in puzzlement.
“Foot in mouth, well, that’s what we call saying something you shouldn’t.”
He waited until her gaze met his. “Please say what you shouldn’t to me. Always.”
The color rose in her cheeks again. Had he, on first sight, thought her rather ordinary? And short. She was short, but she was not ordinary, inside or out.
“It’s a deal if you will as well.” She held out her hand. Not sure what she intended, he took her hand, felt the jolt of it all the way to his heart. “Let’s shake on it.”
She lifted his hand up, then down. For just a minute her hand stayed in his, then she pulled it away. Her shoulders rose and fell in a sigh. “If we want to keep our deal, we should probably figure out what we’re going to do next.” She rubbed between her brows. “My mind wants to go in fifty different directions. Okay, focus.” She turned back to the console even though Bangle did not reside there. “How long do we have until that ship gets here, Bangle?”
A tracking map appeared on the holographic screen that had shown them the incoming ship.
“That’s…interesting,” Rachel gave a sort of shrug. Then sighed and looked at him. “I’m sorry, I can’t read your time. We’ve not been able to work it out yet.”
The time stamps next to each symbol the screen were quite clear to him, but when he tried to enlighten her, he realized he did not know her concept of time either.
“I’ve been trying to learn…” She pulled up the tablet she’d used before and tapped on it. Stared down at it and then tipped her head back. “Forget it. We know our squadron will get here after the bogey. So we need to figure out what to do with that time, short or long.”
He looked at the timing. “Longer than I like.”
“Long enough for the robots to get down here?”
He did the calculation. “Yes.”
They lack the necessary codes.
Rachel turned toward the sound, even though the words also still appeared on her screen, then gave herself a shake and faced Valyr. “If you check your files, you’ll see I ran an integrity scan of the surface access tunnel. It is undamaged from top to bottom. I’m guessing, from seeing the footage of how they got into the other outpost, that they will use explosives if they find the door locked.”
This prompted the longest pause yet.
“We desire to protect you and the—others, Bangle.” He didn’t quite choke on the name this time.
What type of weapons will be optimal for your goal?
He noticed Bangle did not offer evacuation to them. He did not, he could not blame it for not wanting to be left alone, but…would it ever let them leave? That was a concern, but not one he had time to test now. While he might want to leave or wish Rachel to leave, he could not leave his people in such a vulnerable circumstance.
“I know how to point and shoot,” Rachel admitted with a smile he’d have called wry. She wiggled her fingers. “Code is my thing, but I passed my training for this expedition. I can hit my target.”
He smiled at her, the curve widening as pleasure expanded inside him. Perhaps their gods had decreed he
wake in this time, for this woman. There’d been none that interested him in his time.
“I also received training in their use,” he said, his pleasure darkening as he remembered why they’d assembled the weapons. Initially, they had planned to defend their outposts, their research. It was a dichotomy that still puzzled him. How well they’d been at designing the destruction, but how uncomfortable they were with deploying it.
In the end, the vote had been to lock it, hide what they could and leave. He had not agreed with the logic of it, but in the end had joined them in their hope for a better future, rather than stay behind in a galaxy spinning into chaos because two brothers did not know how to get along.
And here he was, almost immediately having to arm himself. So much for his long sleep for peace. “Is there much war in this time?”
Rachel moved closer, putting her hand on his arm. The memory repair was almost done, he noticed, the blue fading from his skin.
“People don’t change much, I’m afraid. There was a war here, for a long time, but right now there is mostly peace.” She nodded toward the tracking screen. “Since the war ended there have been minor skirmishes between the Gadi and what we call pirates, seeking to take advantage of the vacuum left by the defeat of the Dusan.”
“Gadi? Dusan?” He shook his head. The brothers had truly left their mark. “But—” Bangle was not the only one who needed updates. He looked at one of the cameras that he supposed Bangle was using as its eyes and said, “We will return before they get here.”
To his relief, Siru and the bird rolled into the room. “Keep Bangle company and assist as needed,” he told his friend.
It seemed to him that the bird blinked and looked to Rachel.
“Bangle?”
“It’s a…long story. Or maybe a short one that is too long for right now. We’re going to the armory to look at ray guns, but we’ll be back before…” she didn’t finish, but the bird nodded.
“We won’t wander off.”
For some reason, this made Rachel laugh. “Thank you.”
Lost Valyr: Project Enterprise 7 Page 15